For Families

Find Resources Near You

• Dougy Center  

Child/Teen Resources 

• Talking to Children About Death
• Explaining Death in a Child's Terms   (en español)
• After a Loved One Dies - How children grieve and how parents and other adults can support them  (en español)
• Funerals/Memorial Services
  • Explaining the Funeral To Your Children
  • Youth & Funerals: Understanding the Important Role Funerals and Memorialization Play in the Lives of Youth
  • Video: Youth & Funerals (Funeral Service Foundation)
• How Do I Answer My Children's Questions About Death?
• The Power of Parenting: How to Help Your Child After a Parent or Caregiver Dies
• Sesame Street Resources
• KidsHealth.org
  • An Article for Kids: When Somebody Dies (en español) 
  • An Article for Teens: Death and Grief (en español)
• Book List for Parents, Children, and Teens
• Bereavement Resources for Families (from New York Life Foundation)

Traumatic Loss

• Helping Children Cope After a Tragedy
• What is Child Traumatic Stress?
• Age-Related Reactions to a Traumatic Event
• Rosie Remembers Mommy: Forever in Her Heart is the story of a young girl who is struggling with childhood traumatic grief after the death of her mother.
• Supporting Children & Teens After a Murder or Violent Death
• The Power of Parenting: Helping Your Child After a Homicide Loss

Suicide

• American Foundation for Suicide Prevention
  • Resources for those grieving a death by suicide
• Crisis Center
  • Survivors of Suicide (SOS) Support Group - SOS offers a group setting for those people who have lost a loved one to suicide.
• American Association of Suicidology - www.suicidology.org
  • Suicide Loss Survivors
• Surviving a Suicide Loss
• Children, Teens, and Suicide Loss
• What to Do if You're Worried About Suicide: A parent's guide to helping a child in distress  (en español)

General Grief Resources

• The Shared Grief Project
• Hope for the Holidays Handouts
• The Dougy Center - The National Center for Grieving Children & Families
• Understanding Grief - A video created by the Hospice Foundation of America   (en español)
• Benefits of Making Death Talkable - A TEDxTalk video by Heather Servaty-Seib about breaking down the taboos associated with talking about death.

Bereaved Parent Resources

• A Bereaved Parent's Wish List
• Helping Yourself When Your Child Has Died
• The Compassionate Friends
• Coping with Mother's Day When You're Grieving the Loss of a Child

Infant Loss

The Amelia Center provides counseling for individuals and couples who have experienced a pregnancy or infant loss.

•  Pregnancy and Newborn Loss
  • How Men Cope With Pain and Loss Following a Miscarriage
  • National Share
    • The mission of Share Pregnancy and Infant Loss Support, Inc. is to serve those whose lives are touched by the tragic death of a baby through pregnancy loss, stillbirth or in the first few months of life.
  • Baby Steps Memorial 5K and Fun Run (www.babystepsal.com)
    • The Nicholas and Hodge families founded and continue to organize the Baby Steps Memorial Run each year to support The Amelia Center at Children's of Alabama. The Baby Steps Memorial Run allows us the opportunity to bring many families together and set aside a day to remember and honor our loved ones. This is a day of celebration and a day for families to know they are not alone on their grief journey. Although our children are no longer with us, the impact of their short lives are exhibited throughout the race. We have built new relationships with many grieving families and are there to support each other when we need it most. Together we are taking BABY STEPS to mend broken hearts.
  •  Resources for Healthcare Professionals 
    •  Pregnancy Loss and Infant Death Alliance (www.plida.org) 
      • The Pregnancy Loss and Infant Death Alliance (PLIDA) has a unique purpose: to provide a formal network and a unified international presence to increase awareness and education focused on the emotional experiences and needs of bereaved families. 

Preparing a Child for the Death of a Parent or Loved One

• American Cancer Society
  • Helping Children When a Family Member Has Cancer: Dealing With a Parent's Terminal Illness